Electric cars may no longer the reserve of the city, after the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) in the Scottish Highlands took delivery of an adapted Vauxhall Astra.
The first electric car to be used in a British rural community is to be road tested by the Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company (BSCTC) – a local charity helping people who do not have access to transport to get to local services such as doctors, dentists and shopping.
According to the BBC, the car, which can tow its own wind turbine, was ordered after a Highland Council-commissioned report forecasted a decline in filling stations.
The current number of 231 sites is expected to fall to 117 in 10 years.
CNPA has said its electric vehicle could reach speeds of 70mph and has a range of 100 miles.
It takes about 10 hours to recharge and can tow a small wind turbine on a trailer for charging in remoter areas.
David Green, Convener of the CNPA said: “This is a very exciting project for everyone involved. Testing of electric vehicles hasn’t really happened outside of cities so I think what we are doing here is innovative and really quite brave! The core of the project is obviously about tackling and adapting to climate change but the electric car is helping us to meet many other aims in the National Park Plan from promoting sustainable transport to ensuring that we truly are a Park for All by combating social inclusion issues, which is why we have made the link with the award-winning Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company.”
The electric vehicle project is a partnership initiative being led by the CNPA and Perth College UHI with support from Hitrans (the Highland Regional Transport Partnership), Community Energy Scotland, the Climate Challenge Fund and local schools and colleges.
